The term ‘Urban Winery’ is something that not many Calgarians, or people in general are familiar with. In Europe, they are everywhere, including inside Paris's Eiffel Tower, but in Canada, there are only three. One in Toronto, one in Vancouver and one right here in Calgary which is always the first stop on Calgary’s only Wine and Grape Tour.
But what is an Urban Winery?
Interestingly enough, it’s exactly as the name implies. Expect everything that you would from a winery in France, the Napa Valley or the Niagara region minus a vineyard for growing grapes. Oh, and its wine making facility is located in a city center and not in an ancient castle on the hillside of some lush green valley. It's still the same wine, made with the same grapes, same traditions and same care but with a touch of Calgary spirit. Now, if you are asking yourself “Well how are they a winery without their own grapes”, it’s simple, urban wineries import whole clusters of grapes and pure juices from other wineries and grape-growing regions all over the globe, and then they use that world renowned produce to make their own wines, fresh, onsite, and ready to drink. If that sounds a little weird, it's exactly what a brewery does, except brew masters import grain instead of grapes.
In 2020, Calgary’s City & Country Urban Winery was founded by winemakers Karen and Chris Fodor, who called in their wine-obsessed 'vinophile' friend Gina Janzen (pictured), to join them in producing and packaging great wines from all around the world, except made right here in Calgary. The venue, located in the Manchester Industrial Park, or the Barley Belt if you are a beer freak, has always got something on the go. Although they are typically open on Friday and Saturdays only, City & Country can be found full of guests on any given night with private events, intimate concerts, fondue nights and exhibits and art show openings such as the one currently running which features local artist Steve Rogers Collage .
This January YYCTOURS’ offered our first-ever Calgary Wine and Grape Tour which visits City & Country as one of the stops, and the feedback from our guests' experience there was resoundingly positive! Afterall, who wouldn’t enjoy drinking a fresh Pinotage from the Breede River Valley in South Africa, a Sauvignon Blanc from Niagara on the Lake, Gamay Noir from the Okanagan or a Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills in Oregon U.S.A., all while snacking on a charcuterie, tasting other samples of wine straight from the tank and being led through the winery on an exclusive behind-the-scenes walkthrough with a winemaker?
City & Country is an award-winning winery that produces wine the same way that any famous vineyard does. Once they receive their fresh grapes or juices, they employ all the traditional techniques that you are familiar with when it comes to making wine such as pigeage (we always think of that funny news reporter), hand crushing, smashing, pressing and then the occasional modern technique. From time to time, City & Country will seek out free-wine loving volunteers to help with crushing and bottling through their social media. On our last visit there, City & Country with the help of their great volunteers were filling and labeling bottles of fresh wine for a VIP client that shall remain nameless, but who also plays hockey.
The winery offers taproom service with a tasting menu of their latest wines as well as a wide assortment of bottled wines to take home, which by the way are offered at 20% off for guests of the YYCTOURS Wine and Grape Tour and include all the classic styles you find at any wine store, and then a few unique varieties as well. The decor is pleasant, the seating is comfortable and the service is provided by super friendly and extremely knowledgeable wine gurus.
You can follow Chris, Karen, Gina and the team at City & Country through social media to see what is coming down the pipe or you can sign up for our Calgary Wine and Grape Tour that offers events for groups of any size below. Each tour includes transportation and comes with a stop at City & Country's Urban Winery for a great wine tasting, a behind-the-scenes walkthrough, charcuterie and a sample of wine straight from the tank, and then is followed by a stop at a second location in Calgary that makes wine and other grape based spirits for further samples and tastings and another behind-the-scenes look with the staff.
To sign up for a Calgary Wine and Grape Tour, visit YYCTOURS here.
If wine isn't your thing, YYCTOURS also offers distillery and brewery tours as well as transportation services if you just need a van and a driver.
Cheers